Updated: The Vaccination clinic was a great success! 75% of the animals were vaccinated, some of whom had never received any vaccines.
Submitted. Sumas First Nation and local veterinarians band together to prevent reserve dogs from getting sick from deadly disease.
In response to news that the deadly canine disease Parvovirus Enteritis is still found in pockets in the upper Fraser Valley, the Sumas First Nation Band and Whatcom Road Veterinary Hospital are joining forces to ensure all reserve land dogs are protected by being vaccinated.
First recognized in 1978, Parvovirus Enteritis has since killed millions of dogs world-wide. Fortunately vaccination programs have been very successful in protecting dogs from getting sick. Parvovirus is spread in the feces of sick dogs and may remain infective on the ground for many months. Primary symptoms are sudden depression, vomiting, and profuse diarrhea. Prevention through vaccination is the best way to protect dogs from getting this disease.
On October 4th, 2014, at 1-5 pm local veterinarians Dr. Elizabeth Borgman and Dr. Ken Macquisten will join other volunteers to examine and vaccinate approximately 30 dogs at the new Health Services Building. Booster vaccines to many of the same dogs will be given again four weeks later on November 1, at 1-5 pm at the same location.
“We are very pleased to have the support of local veterinarians as we try to provide the best care possible to the dogs of our community. We are also very grateful to Merial Canada Inc. for donating the vaccines to protect our dogs from Distemper and Parvovirus,” says Janice Busby, Community Health Worker. “The dogs are important members of the family of at least ½ of the 60 or so households of the Sumas First Nation Band.”
